Imran Khan receives a three-year prison sentence from Pakistan court

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Imran Khan, an opposition leader in Pakistan, has been sentenced to three years in jail for corruption. This verdict poses a threat to his political career as the country gears up for national elections later this year.

Khan was arrested by a large contingent of police at his Lahore home and taken to jail immediately after the ruling of an Islamabad lower court on Saturday. The court found him guilty of illegally benefiting from the sale of gifts received during his term as Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022.

This is not the first time Khan has been arrested by Pakistani authorities, as he has engaged in verbal clashes not only with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government but also with the powerful military in the country.

Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), criticized his conviction and arrest, claiming it to be a politically motivated attempt to prevent him from participating in the upcoming general elections. They argue that Khan is being targeted due to his criticism of the army, which holds significant influence over the country’s politics.

The PTI stated that the decision was made hastily to exclude Khan from the electoral race. Khan has appealed against the judgment in both the Islamabad High Court and the Supreme Court. He currently faces multiple cases, ranging from corruption to terrorism allegations.

Analysts believe that this latest action against Khan could heighten political tensions in Pakistan ahead of the elections. Despite being removed from office via a no-confidence vote last year, Khan remains a popular figure and a potential candidate for prime minister if given the opportunity to run.

Huma Baqai, an analyst based in Karachi, expressed her belief that this move will only strengthen Khan’s support rather than weaken it. She also highlighted the possibility of challenging his arrest in higher courts.

Khan’s previous arrest in May, linked to allegations of a corrupt land deal, resulted in protests across the country, leading to casualties and damage to military installations. Although Khan was later granted bail, thousands of his supporters were arrested, and several senior PTI leaders were pressured to leave the party in a crackdown believed to be influenced by the military.

Khan referred to this series of events as an “undeclared martial law” and stated that authorities would only hold elections when they believe his party is crushed. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government has struggled with an economic crisis, is expected to step down soon and transfer power to a caretaker government ahead of the polls.

In a tragic incident last Sunday, a suicide bombing during a rally organized by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) party resulted in over 60 deaths. This hardline Sunni Muslim group is part of Sharif’s ruling coalition, and a local ISIS offshoot claimed responsibility for the attack.